Community Energy Development and Partnerships Officer

• Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils
• Address: Endeavour House, 8 Russell Road, Ipswich, Suffolk IP1 2BX
• Salary: £32,578 - £37,563 per annum
• Hours: Full Time, 37 hours per week
• Contract: Fixed Term Contract or Secondment Opportunity for 12 months

This role is open to full time, part time, and job share applications, all of which will be assessed equally.

Join our team

We are looking for a Community Energy Development and Partnerships Officer to join our Climate and Nature Recovery team.

If you share our values and are motivated to make a difference for our residents, clients, and communities, we would love to hear from you.

About the role

This is an exciting opportunity to support the development of community energy and resilience projects across Mid Suffolk.

You will work with community organisations, parish councils, local partners and specialist providers to identify opportunities, develop projects and help communities progress them towards delivery. You will provide dedicated community-facing support through the "Building Resilience and Adaptation through Community Energy" (BRACE) Programme, helping communities access technical and funding support and build their capacity to develop local energy projects.

In this proactive and dynamic role, you will:

• build relationships with communities, parish councils, community energy groups and local partners

• identify and develop community energy and resilience opportunities

• support projects from initial ideas through to implementation
• develop and maintain a pipeline of community energy projects across Mid Suffolk
• organise and support community meetings, workshops and engagement activities
• coordinate technical advice, feasibility studies and specialist support
• identify funding opportunities and support communities with funding applications
• support local energy planning and help deliver the BRACE programme and grant scheme
• monitor project progress and contribute to programme reporting and evaluation.

About you

We are looking for a community-focused and motivated professional with experience of developing projects, building partnerships and working with communities to deliver positive outcomes.

You will have:

• experience of community engagement, partnership working, project coordination or project development

• knowledge or experience of community energy, renewable energy, sustainability, climate change or local climate action
• experience of working with community organisations, parish councils or similar stakeholders
• experience of identifying funding opportunities and supporting grant or funding activity
• strong communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to explain information clearly to different audiences
• good organisational and project coordination skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and keep projects moving forward
• a proactive approach, with the ability to identify opportunities, solve problems and work independently
• good written skills, including the ability to prepare clear project updates, reports and other information
• the ability to work collaboratively with colleagues, communities, partners and external providers
• a relevant qualification or equivalent professional experience in community energy, sustainability, climate change, environmental management, community development, project management or a related area would be desirable.

You will be required to visit communities across a large rural area and so will need to hold a full, current driving licence and have access to a car.

About us

At Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils we are passionate about building communities that people want to live, work, visit and invest in.

We serve around 200,000 residents across our two districts and are well known for our collaboration and partnership working across public, private and voluntary sectors.

We believe that the heart of Suffolk is an incredibly special place to live and work, with:

• 60 conservation areas
• two National Landscapes
• many picturesque market towns

It is no surprise we are ranked among the top 50 places to live in the UK.

Employee Benefits

We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Generous leave entitlement (26 days a year, rising to 31 days after 5 years).
• Competitive Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Wellbeing Support and Employee Assistance Programs.
• Private Health Care Options.
• Electric Vehicle Salary Sacrifice Scheme.
• Paid volunteering days.
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements (Business needs permitting).
• Great learning and development opportunities.

For more information, visit our Employee Benefits page

Our working culture

We believe work is what we do, not just where we go.

We work in a hybrid way, with a mix of office, home, and remote based working (Business need permitting). Our hybrid working arrangements support flexibility and collaboration, helping our teams to thrive.

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, providing opportunity and ambition for all, supporting and enabling our people to deliver the best possible services for our residents.

For more information

For an informal discussion or to learn more about hybrid working for this role, please contact Sarah Wilding by either calling 01449 724821 or emailing: sarah.wilding@baberghmidsuffolk.gov.uk

Please read the Job Description and Person Specification.pdf before applying for this job opportunity.

Closing date: 11 pm, 22 November 2026.

Promoted as FJ (Featured Job) on Suffolk Jobs Direct.

How to apply

please ensure:

• your application form is fully completed, including employment and education history

• your supporting statement clearly addresses how you meet the criteria in the Person Specification

This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts.